The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday suspended further proceedings in the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pending a decision of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in her ruling, said the court was constrained to stay proceedings following a notice of appeal filed by a faction of the party led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Kabiru Turaki.

The judge explained that once a notice of appeal has been properly filed and the record of appeal transmitted, a trial court is required by law to exercise restraint and refrain from taking further steps that may affect the subject matter of the appeal.

Consequently, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the substantive suit to February 20 for mention.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, seeks to nullify the outcome of the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.

It was established by Mohammed Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the Acting National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, of the PDP bloc loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Listed as defendants are individuals elected at the Ibadan convention, alongside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and the State Security Service (SSS).

The plaintiffs are seeking an order of injunction restraining the 5th to 25th defendants, who emerged from the Ibadan convention, from parading or presenting themselves as officers or representatives of the PDP in any capacity.

They also urged the court to bar INEC from recognising or treating the convention-elected officials as party representatives.

In addition, the plaintiffs prayed the court to restrain the defendants from allegedly “invading” the party’s national headquarters and to prohibit INEC from recognising any address as the PDP national secretariat other than Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

They further sought a mandatory injunction directing the security agencies, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and the SSS, to provide adequate security for the plaintiffs and their successors to conduct the party’s affairs at Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, and Legacy House, Maitama, Abuja.